Petersen Events Center – Let’s Hope It “Panthers” to Your Interests!

If you’re in the mood for an amazing concert or a top-notch basketball game, the Petersen Events Center, or the Pete, has got you covered.

The Petersen Events Center is located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. While various concerts and other events (such as Cirque du Soleil and the University of Pittsburgh’s graduation) have been held here, it is perhaps best known for being the home of the University of Pittsburgh’s men’s and women’s Division I basketball teams. It is located at the former site of Pitt Stadium, which was the home of various University of Pittsburgh sports teams, particularly the Pittsburgh Panthers football team before its relocation to Heinz Field. After Pitt Stadium was demolished in 1999, the ground was broken for the Petersen Events Center in 2000, and it officially opened in 2002. At 430,000 square feet, it contains a basketball court/concert space, a practice basketball court for the teams, a hall showcasing the university’s athletic achievements, a food court for students, an academic center, club and banquet suites for premium seating and private events, a merchandise store, and an athletic training facility for students. It has a seating capacity of 12,508 for basketball games, and 9,000 for concerts.

You won’t find a better place to watch a thrilling basketball game than the Pete. Now I know that sentence may sound shocking, but the reason I say that is because despite being home to a professional football, hockey, and baseball team, Pittsburgh does not have a professional basketball team of its own. And this is why the Pete is the best place in Pittsburgh to catch a top-notch basketball game, even if the players aren’t considered “professional.” According to a reviewer on Yelp, it’s the best place to “intimately” watch a college basketball game, because “every seat in the place is good and you feel right on top of the action.” At a basketball game at the Pete, you definitely won’t find a shortage of team and school spirit. This is because the student section, the Oakland Zoo, has been known as one of the top student sections in student basketball. The Oakland Zoo was formed independently by students around the time the Pete opened. They wear gold t-shirts exclusive to Pitt students. Different iterations of the Oakland Zoo t-shirts are released for each basketball season. One reviewer on Yelp referred to the Oakland Zoo as “the BEST student section EVER.” Below, you can view a video highlighting the Oakland Zoo.

While most concerts and events are held Pittsburgh’s more well-known venues, the Pete has held its fair share of concerts and events over the years and continues to do so. Artists such as Green Day, Ariana Grande, the Lumineers, and Demi Lovato have performed here. From 2013-2015, 100.7’s O Starry Night, a concert held around the holiday season featuring various artists, was held at the Pete. Cirque du Soleil also came to the Pete, in 2014 and 2017. The University of Pittsburgh’s graduation is also held here annually. Comparing the Pete to other concert venues in Pittsburgh, a reviewer on Yelp stated that the Pete “fills the tricky gap between the Consol Energy Center (now known as PPG Paints Arena) and Stage AE in terms of larger indoor music venues.”

Whether you’re seeking an intimate concert experience or one of the best college basketball experiences you’ll ever have, the Petersen Events Center, or the Pete, is the best place to get it done.